Miami, Feb 15 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Florida, 17 people were killed and 15 others wounded Wednesday in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.  The massacre at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Portland, Florida, was the 18th school shooting this year. 

Police have identified the gunman as a 19-year-old former student named Nikolas Cruz.  He was arrested a few miles away from the scene of the shooting.  His classmates described him as a loner who was obsessed with guns.  Police say his social media profile showed “very, very disturbing” content. 

In related news, The New York Times reports that since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, more than 400 people have been shot in over 200 school shootings.